When was the last time you had a genuine conversation--an experience not of mere self-assertion but of speaking and listening as though you had something both to offer and to receive? Our habits of language define us, but the pace of our lives is such that the simple gestures of listening carefully and speaking prudently are amazingly rare. The Friday Night Salon aims at being an alternative to the urban rush that denies the civilizing graces of community. We begin with good food and drink, then take our places in a circle for discussion about a variety of relevant, substantial topics. It's a welcome way to end the Dallas workweek.
Discussion topics for December 5, 2008:
1. The psychology of money
2. Is homo sapiens intellectually curious by nature?
3. Can we control how we experience time?
All responses to any and all of the questions are welcome!
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Thursday, December 4, 2008
Friday Night Salon
When was the last time you had a genuine conversation--an experience not of mere self-assertion but of speaking and listening as though you had something both to offer and to receive? Our habits of language define us, but the pace of our lives is such that the simple gestures of listening carefully and speaking prudently are amazingly rare. The Friday Night Salon aims at being an alternative to the urban rush that denies the civilizing graces of community. We begin with good food and drink, then take our places in a circle for discussion about a variety of relevant, substantial topics. It's a welcome way to end the Dallas workweek.
Discussion topics for December 5, 2008:
1. The psychology of money
2. Is homo sapiens intellectually curious by nature?
3. Can we control how we experience time?
All responses to any and all of the questions are welcome!
Discussion topics for December 5, 2008:
1. The psychology of money
2. Is homo sapiens intellectually curious by nature?
3. Can we control how we experience time?
All responses to any and all of the questions are welcome!
1 comment:
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Ginger said...
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1. Is especially tough. I am able to understand the idea of not needing as much money and have recently even wanted to sell everything and start over - outside of suburbia (How in the hell did I end up here!?)I have friends who live will relatively little income and are very well off in other, more important ways - spirituality for example. But it is easy to have no money and be happy when you have little responsibility. Now I have a baby. I no longer get to make decisions in such an irresonsible way. In order for him to stay healthy, I have to succumb to what others demand of my finances - daycare, healthcare, shelter, etc. The nice thing is I get to choose my lifestyle. I have a leg up over people who are impoverished because of circumstance.
Also, though (and to continue my ramble, people who have money are far less forgiving of those who do not have it. Charity seems to be given with a sneer. I hate that.
Entitlement also plays into this scenario. I'm not sure how, exactly, but it does.
2. I assume, we are translating homo sapiens to mean wise human or noble human. In other words is the wise human curious by nature? Is it wise to be curious or can we help it? This ties in to the whole Prometheus Bound argument. Prometheus brought fire (knowledge) to humans who use it both to their benefit and detriment. Yes, we are curious by nature, but no, it may not always be wise to be curious. There is the contradiction.
3. We created time. We control all of our experiences, including how we experience time. We are certainly experts at speeding up our experience with time. We, in our American culture, rarely take the time to experience anything fully. It is a lot harder to slow everything down.
Sorry, these are poorly considered (sick baby), but maybe it's a jumping off point? -
December 4, 2008 at 11:50 AM
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1 comment:
1. Is especially tough. I am able to understand the idea of not needing as much money and have recently even wanted to sell everything and start over - outside of suburbia (How in the hell did I end up here!?)I have friends who live will relatively little income and are very well off in other, more important ways - spirituality for example. But it is easy to have no money and be happy when you have little responsibility. Now I have a baby. I no longer get to make decisions in such an irresonsible way. In order for him to stay healthy, I have to succumb to what others demand of my finances - daycare, healthcare, shelter, etc. The nice thing is I get to choose my lifestyle. I have a leg up over people who are impoverished because of circumstance.
Also, though (and to continue my ramble, people who have money are far less forgiving of those who do not have it. Charity seems to be given with a sneer. I hate that.
Entitlement also plays into this scenario. I'm not sure how, exactly, but it does.
2. I assume, we are translating homo sapiens to mean wise human or noble human. In other words is the wise human curious by nature? Is it wise to be curious or can we help it? This ties in to the whole Prometheus Bound argument. Prometheus brought fire (knowledge) to humans who use it both to their benefit and detriment. Yes, we are curious by nature, but no, it may not always be wise to be curious. There is the contradiction.
3. We created time. We control all of our experiences, including how we experience time. We are certainly experts at speeding up our experience with time. We, in our American culture, rarely take the time to experience anything fully. It is a lot harder to slow everything down.
Sorry, these are poorly considered (sick baby), but maybe it's a jumping off point?
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